Article handling apparatus



Nov. 24,` 1953 M O, HANSEN 2,660,288

ARTICLE HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 16. 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 24, 1953 M. o. HANSEN ARTICLE HANDLING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb.

un. Huw" M. O. HANSEN ARTCLE HANDLING APPARATUS Nov. 24, 1953 l5 Sheets-Sheet I5 Filed Feb.

PLaHANsEN Patented Nov. 24, 1953 ARTICLE HANDLING APPARATUS Melvin O. Hansen, Toledo, Ohio, assignor to Owens-Illinois Glass Company, a corporation of Ohio Application February 16, 1951, Serial No. 211,400

10 Claims. (Cl. 198-33) This invention relates to article handling apparatus and particularly to apparatus for inverting tumblers which are discharged from a burn-olf machine in bottom-up position and for subsequently transferring the tumblers to a cross conveyor by means of which the ware in conducted to the annealing lehr.

In present day manufacture of glassware, moil is removed from tumblers in a suitable burn-off machine. In the usual embodiment, the tumblers are in an inverted position during this operation. It is therefore necessary to provide some suitable mechanism for bringing the tumblers to an upright position and transferring the tumblers to a cross conveyor by means of which the ware is conducted to the annealing lehr.

In such an apparatus, it is essential' that the tumblers, which are at a fairly high temperature, be inverted without distorting the shape thereof and without marking or disiiguring the interior surface thereof. Moreover, it is necessary that the tumblers be positively positioned and spaced on the cross conveyor in order that they may be properly transferred to the lehr. A further requirement of the apparatus is that it be capable of clearing itself in case a tumbler breaks or several tumblers are inadvertently at the uprighting station at the same time.

`It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an apparatus for uprighting the tumblers and transferring them to a cross conveyor without distorting the shape thereof or marking or disfiguring the interior surfaces thereof.

A further object of this invention is to provide Y such an apparatus whereby the tumblers Willbe positively Vpositioned and spaced on the cross conveyor. l

It is a further object of this invention to provide such an apparatus which will clear itself in its normal operation.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Referring to the laccompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan View of the uprighting and transferring mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a part sectional elevational View substantially along the line 2-2 on Fig. 1;

Fig. v3 is a sectional view at the line 3-3 on Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is -a sectional view at the line ii--A on Fig. 6

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of the lower portion of the apparatus showing the driving connections; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view substantially along the line 6-6 on Fig. 2.

Basically, my invention comprises means for bringing the inverted tumblers to an uprighting station, means for pivoting the tumblers one at a time about their rim or bead and causing them to fall freely, means for guiding the freely falling tumblers to a lower level, and means for spacing the tumblers on a cross conveyor.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the tumblers l, after leaving the burn-off machine (not shown) are delivered in rapid succession to a circular table Ii which is continuously rotated about its axis, the tumblers being placed in an inverted position on the table Il. The table carries the inverted tumblers lil to an uprighting station A. At the uprighting station, a stream of air under pressure emanates continuously from a pipe l2, and a horizontal bar I3 is positioned tangent to the table l. As a tumbler I9 is brought into position before the pipe l2, the air forces the tumbler against the bar I 3 and causes it to be pivoted about the bar and to fall freely, as shown by the dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 3.

Cup mechanism lli is provided for guiding the freely falling tumblers to an upright position and spacing the uprighted tumblers on a horizontally travelling cross conveyor I5. As seen from above in Fig. 1, this cup mechanism li is substantially circular in outline and is composed of a series of cup units i6, herein shown as four in number. Each of these units includes an open semi-cylim drical pocket Il with vertical walls, into Which pocket a freely falling tumbler is guided. Each of the cup units i6 also includes a guiding section or chute I9 having an inclined, downwardly convergent guiding surface for guiding the freely falling tumbler into the pocket Il. This guiding surface i9 extends upwardly from said pocket Il in a conical fashion as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. A stationary wall comprising a vertical wall section I8 is extended in an arc along the periphery of the mechanism ill to aid in guiding the tumblers during their uprighting movement and during their movement to the conveyor l 5 while supported in the pockets Il.

As shown in Fig. 2, the stationary wall includes an inclined portion 2| extending along the upper edge of the vertical wall section i8 for aiding in guiding the freely falling tumblers into the pooku ets il. The inclined portion 2| extends upwardly to substantially the level of the table Il. Each of the cup units I6 is also provided with a camming block 29 adjacent to the pocket l1 which aids in positively ejecting the uprighted tumbler from the pocket il onto the cross conveyor I5. The surfaces of the metal cup `unit I6, with which the hot tumblers come in contact, and the vertical wall I8, are covered With a layer of insulating material 2te (Fig. 6) such as asbestos, to prevent breakage of the hot ware due to the sudden cooling' which might result if the ware were allowed to come into contact with cold metal surfaces. The asbestos also serves as a cushioning member.

The cup units I are mounted for rotation on a Vertical shaft 22 (Figs. 2, 4). The units are mounted as presently described so that each may be quickly and easily removed and replaced. A collar 23 is keyed to the vertical shaft 22 and a mounting ring 2d is slipped over said collar. As shown in Fig. 4, the mounting ring 2 is held in position by a spring 25 and ball 26 acting on detent in the form of a recess in the collar 23. Such a spring, ball, and detent arrangement is provided at equally spaced points around the periphery of the mounting ring 23, and is a safety precaution to permit slippage of the cup mechanism I4. A plate 28 and a .nut 2S are provided to retain the collar 23 in a vertical position on the shaft 22.

Resilient spring-type clips 30 and Wedgeshaped mounting bars 3 I are bolted on the mounting ring 26 and extend upwardly therefrom. Referring to Figs. 2, 4, and 6 it may be seen that each of the lcup units I6 is provided with an integral U-shaped mounting bracket 32 over which a plate 33 is bolted, providing a space between the bracket and plate. The unit i6 is mounted (as shown in Fig. 4) by moving it downwardly over the clip 30 and mounting bar 3l, the clip and mounting bar extending through the space between the bracket 32 and plate 33. The clip 3B is provided with a tab 34 which snaps over the plate 33 to retain the cup unit I6 in position.

As shown in Figs. l and 2, a constantly rotating disc 35 mounted on a shaft 35 is provided below the cup units to serve as a bottom plate against which the bottoms of the tumblers are retained as they are carried along to ythe cross conveyor. This disc 35 is rotated as shown, in a counterclockwise direction in order to apply a force to the bottoms of the tumblers toward the axis of the carrier I3 and thereby aid in retaining the tumblers inthe pockets.

As shown in Fig. 5, the various parts of the mechanism are driven by a motor 38. The circular table I I is rotated through a driving connection to the motor 38, the driving connection comprising shaft 39, bevel gears el), 4I, and shaft 42, and coupling 43.

The cup mechanism I4 and rotating disc 35 are rotated by the motor 38 through driving connections `which include gearing Within a gear boX 44 (Fig. 2) comprising a gear 45 on the shaft 22, an idler ,gear die, and a gear 4l on the shaft 36. A coupling it connects the shaft 33 with gearing in a second gear box 49 and gears 50 and 5I (Figs. 2,5).

The cupmechanism I, disc '35, and gear box 44 are supported on a short column 52 resting on plate 53 which in turn is bolted to base 54 by bolts 55 extending through elongated openings 56. The entire mechanism may be adjusted relative to the table II and cross conveyor I5 by rotating the plate 53 relative to the base 54.

The operation of the mechanism may be summarized as follows:

After leaving the burn-oif machine, the tumblers It are placed in an inverted position .on the rotating table II which carries the tumblers infront of the pipe I2. As a Atumbler is carried into position before pipe I2, the air-emanating under pressure from the pipe I2 forces the tumbler against the bar I3 and causes it to be pivoted or tipped over the bar and fall freely. The freely falling tumbler is guided downwardly into the pocket II by the inclined conical surface I9 and the inclined surface 2l on the vertical wall I8. The tumbler is then carried along in the pocket I'I and positioned on the cross conveyor I5. The cam block 29 aids in this positioning step by forcing the tumbler against the wall I8 and further insuring the transfer to the cross conveyor I5.

The tumbler, after being uprighted, is retained in the pocket I'l' during its movement toward the conveyor l5, bythe force applied to the bottom of Vthe tumbler by the rotating disc 35.

Each tumbler will vibrate or bounce upon having its free fall stopped at ythe lower level. However, sui'licient time elapses during the movement of the tumbler to the cross conveyor, so that the Vibration or bouncing has stopped by the time the tumbler reaches the cross conveyor. This insures that the tumblers are accurately positioned and spaced on the cross conveyor and therefore provides an important advantage of the mechanism.

The speed of rotation of the `cup mechanism Id is such that a cup unit I6 is brought to the uprighting station in time to receive the freely falling tumbler. However, the uprighting operation will be equally eective even if the tumbler has become displaced on the table l I and is caused to fall freely downward before a pocket I'I is in perfect alignment; the guiding surfaces will nevertheless guide the tumbler into the pocket.

If a tumbler becomes broken, the pieces will not jam the mechanism but will be carried away and swept aside by the pockets I6 Without any interruption of the operation.

Theair emanating from the pipe I2 is preferably applied continuously but may be applied intermittently.

It can be seen that the mechanism described provides an apparatus for uprighting tumblers and positively positioning and spacing them on conveyors without distorting the shape thereof and without marking or defacing the interior surfaces thereof. The apparatus does not necessitate accurate positioning of the tumblers before transfer of the tumblers thereto. The apparatus is simply constructed, occupies ver-y little space, and is also self-clearing.

Modifications may be resorted to within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1.V The combination comprising a horizontal circular table mounted for rotation about its axis for successively bringing inverted tumblers, positioned thereon along its periphery, to an uprighting station, a horizontal bar tangent to said table at the uprighting station, means for forcing each tumbler against said bar as it is brought to the uprighting station and causing it `to be pivoted about said bar and fall freely, a horizontal rotating disc at a lower level than said oircular table and in the vicinity of the uprighting station, a horizontally traveling conveyor adjacent to the rotating disc and at the same level as said rotating disc, means for guiding each said freely falling tumbler onto the rotating disc and then moving said tumbler along said disc to the conveyor and positioning `it thereon.

2. The combination comprising a horizontal circular table mounted for rotation about its axis for successively bringing inverted tumblers, positioned thereon along its periphery, to an uprighting station, a horizontal bar tangent to said table at the uprighting station, means for supplying air under pressure against the upper part ofeach tumbler as it is brought to the uprighting station and thereby forcing each tumbler against said bar and causing it to be pivoted about said bar and fall freely, a horizontal rotating disc at a lower level than said circular table and in the vicinity of the uprighting station, a horizontally traveling conveyor adjacent to the rotating disc and at the same level as said rotating disc, means for guiding each said freely falling tumbler onto the rotating disc and then moving said tumbler Jalong said disc to the conveyor and positioning it thereon.

3. The combination set forth in claim 2, said means for guiding, moving, and positioning the tumblers comprising a vertical wall extending in an arcuate manner from the uprighting station to-the conveyor, the upper end of said wall being substantially on a level with the circular table and the lower end of said wall being substantially on a level with the disc, and a cup mechanism having a circular configuration and mounted for rotation about a vertical axis, said cup mechanism being concentric with and having substantially the same radius as the vertical wall, said mechanism comprising semi-circular pockets in the periphery thereof into each of which a tumbler is guided as it falls and by which each tumbler is moved to the conveyor and positioned thereon, the cup mechanism including an inclined surface extending from the upper edge of each of said pockets for guiding a freely falling tumbler into each of said pockets.

4. The combination set forth in claim 2, said means for guiding, moving and positioning the tumblers comprising a vertical wall extending in an arcuate manner from the uprighting station to the conveyor, the upper end of said wall being substantially on a level with the circular table and the lower end of said wall being substantially on a level with the disc, and the cup mechanism having a circular configuration and mounted for rotation about a vertical axis, said mechanism being concentric with and having substantially the same radius as the vertical Wall, said mechanism comprising semi-circular pockets in the periphery `thereof into each of which a tumbler is guided as it falls and by which each tumbler is moved to the conveyor and positioned thereon, the cup mechanism including an inclined surface extending in a conical fashion from the upper edge Vof each of said pockets for guiding a freely falling tumbler into each of said pockets.

5. The combination set forth in claim 2, said means for guiding the Jumblers comprising a series of open cups mounted for rotation about a vertical axis, guiding surfaces extending upwardly from said cups for guiding a freely failing tumbler into each of said cups as the cups are successively brought to the uprighting station, and a vertical wall extending along a portion of the path of said cups.

6. The combination comprising a horizontal circular table mounted for rotation about its axis for successively bringing inverted tumblers,

positioned thereon along its periphery, to an uprighting station, a horizontal bar tangent to said table at the uprighting station, means for forcing each tumbler against said bar as it is brought to the uprighting station and causing it to be pivoted about said bar and to fall freely, a horizontal plate at a lower level than said circular table and partially underlying said circular table, a horizontally traveling conveyor adjacent to the plate and at the same level as said plate, means for guiding said freely falling tumbler onto the plate and then moving said tumbler along said plate to the conveyor and positioning it thereon.

7. The combination comprising a horizontal circular table mounted for rotation about its axis for successively bringing inverted tumblers, positioned thereon along its periphery, to an uprighting station, a horizontal bar tangent to said table at the uprighting station, means for supplying air under pressure against the upper part of each tumbler as it is brought to the uprighting station and thereby forcing each tumbler against said bar and causing it to be pivoted about said bar and fall freely, a horizontal rotating disc at a lower level than said circular table and in the Vicinity of the uprighting station, a horizontally traveling conveyor adjacent to the rotating disc and at the same level as said rotating disc, means for guiding each said freely falling tumbler onto the rotating disc and then moving said tumbler along said disc to the conveyor and positioning it thereon, comprising a vertical wall extending in an arcuate manner from the uprighting station to the conveyor, the upper end of sai-d Wall being substantially o-n a level with the circular table and the lower end of said Wall being substantially on a level with the disc, and the cup mechanism having a circular configuration and mounted for rotation about a vertic-al axis, said mechanism being concentric With and having substantially the same radius as the vertical wall, said mechanism comprising semi-circular .pockets in the periphery thereof into each of which a tumbler is guided as it falls and by which each tumbler is moved to the conveyor and positioned thereon, the cup mechanism including an inclined surface extending in a conical fashion from the upper edge of each of said pockets for guiding a freely falling tumbler into each of said pockets and means mounted adjacent to each of said pockets for contacting the tumbler as it is positioned on the conveyor and transmitting a positive movement thereto to insure its being properly positioned on the conveyor.

8. Apparatus for transferring tumblers or like articles comprising a generally circular transfer element mounted for rotation horizontally about its axis, said element comprising downwardly and outwardly inclined guiding walls terminating at their lower ends in semi-cylindrical `pockets opening outwardly at the periphery of said element, means for dropping the said articles in succession onto said guiding surfaces and causing said articles to move downwardly into rsaid pockets, a horizontal traveling conveyor extending beneath said pockets into position to provide a support for the articles while the latter are in said pockets, means for rotating said transfer element, and means for guiding and forcing the -articles out of said pockets and leaving them in upright position on the conveyor.

9. The combination set forth in claim 8, said last mentioned means comprising cam blocks carried by said transfer element and extending rear- A wardly from said pockets.

10. Apparatus for transferring tumblers and other articles comprising a transfer element mounted for rotation-about a vertical axis and formed in its peripheral .portions with outwardly opening pockets, means for rotating the transfer 'Z element about its vertical axis and thereby bringing the said pockets in succession to :a receiving station, 'means for dropping the articles in suc- 8 portion yof their travel with the transfer unit, 'and means for 4rotating the disc 'in a direction to hold the said articles within said Apockets while cession to said transfer element and guiding them into sai-d pockets, a traveling conveyor ex- 5 tending horizontally beneath and adjacent toa portion of the transfer element at a position beyoudV the said receiving station, means for rotating said element, .means for 'dropping the said supported on the disc. MELVIN O. HANSEN.

References Cited in the file 'of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS articles into said pockets singly Iand in succession, 1U Number Name Date a horizontal Adisc mounted for rotation about its 1,015,319 Jefferies Jan, 23, 1912 vertical axis, said disc being lat substantially the 1,510,097 IVIle'r Sept. 30, 1924 l, same level as said 'conveyor and positioned in' 2,207,179 Schreiber July 9, 1940 terme'diate the conveyor at said station, the con- 2,335,239 Gladfeltei' Nov. 30, 1943 E veyor being tangent to the disc, said disc form 15 2,344,461 Herm-ani Mar. 14, i944 ing a bottom support for the articles -duri-ng a 

